ETHAN
I managed to meet with Will and my brother late in the afternoon to go over all the information Alice had provided about the laboratory issues. This would be my first client since returning from London, and I was determined to do my best, as always.
Apparently, neither Will nor Bennett had realized earlier that this was the lab where Anna and Ellie worked. Now, the two of them sat at the conference table, staring at each other in silence.
"I think it would be more appropriate for Will to handle this client," my brother said, his fist pressed against his lips.
"What? Why? I've already made the first contact with the client."
I was indignant because I knew exactly what he was thinking.
"His wife works there, as you mentioned."
"And that has nothing to do with Miss Brown, right?" I asked sarcastically, crossing my arms and leaning against the bookshelf behind me. "Are you seriously questioning my ability to act professionally?"
"It's not that. We should just avoid any risk."
"Of course! Because you, my dear brother, are the most suitable person to judge someone for that!" I scoffed with sarcasm.
Was Bennett forgetting that his own wife had worked with him when they first met?
"Enough," Will said. "I believe your brother knows exactly how to handle this."
"Thank you. At least someone here can see that."
"Will didn’t have the conversation with you that I had this morning."
"Well, my brother, unlike you, I know how to separate work from my personal life."
"As if you had one. Fine, do as you wish. The risks are all yours, and so are the consequences."
"When have I ever given you a reason to think I can't do my job to the best of my ability?"
Bennett had to be kidding. He knew exactly what work meant to me; I had dedicated the past few years of my life to this company.
"You're obsessed with that woman. Trust me, I know exactly what that's like."
"Nonsense! I'm not you, and she’s not Zoe."
"Enough! Don’t forget, we're talking about Ellie. She’s like part of my family. I'll kick your ass myself if you hurt her. Remember that," Will said in a threatening tone.
I took a deep breath and approached the table.
"I'll pass on the information to the rest of the team so we can get started. Is there anything else to discuss?"
"I hope not because it’s already past seven. Anna's going to kill me," Will said, glancing at his wristwatch.
"Well then, good night!"
I left the room, heading back to my office, still in disbelief that my brother had just questioned my ability to be professional because of that woman. Damn it. I barely knew her, and she was already causing me problems.
I sat in my chair, frustrated. Taking a deep breath, I ran my hands over my face, trying to clear my thoughts. Just then, Bennett knocked on the door before opening it.
"Don't you have a wifey waiting at home too?"
"Don't be an asshole." He walked in, closing the door behind him.
"I’ll remind you as many times as necessary that you can’t judge anyone for that."
My brother had been the biggest bastard of them all, and he still was—only now, Zoe had found ways to keep him tamed. Sex was one of them.
But it would only take a week away from her for Bennett to turn heaven into hell. I had witnessed this many times when he traveled to London for work.
"It's late," he said, taking a few steps and sitting in the chair across from my desk. "Go home. Stop working so much."
I knew this was just my brother being concerned about me, but I was still pissed at him.
"I don't want to give you any reason to doubt my work; you're already doing that without one."
"Cut it out. You know exactly why I said that."
"In front of Will?"
"Will is like our brother."
"Screw that! I've never given you any reason to doubt the damn work I do."
"This isn’t about you. I know exactly what it's like to be involved with a woman who makes you lose your mind. It even screws up your damn job."
"I'm not you. How many times do I have to say it?"
"You're heading down the same path."
"God! She's just a woman! I haven’t even fucked her yet, and you're already seeing things that aren't there."
"You just said 'yet.' That's exactly why," he said, slamming his fist on the table with a smirk.
"No woman will make me lose my mind again."
"Well, now you won’t just have to worry about life kicking your ass, but Will too."
"What do you want me to say to leave me alone? Huh? That I won't get involved with her? Don't worry, I won't do that while I'm working."
"Good! Now go home. Enough work for today," he said as he stood up.
"I need to get a head start on this client's stuff."
"Do it tomorrow."
"Unlike you..." I stared at my computer screen and started typing the password to unlock it. "I'm not in a hurry; I don't have any woman waiting for me at home."
"If you keep this up, you never will. You should start paying attention to things that really matter," he said as he walked toward the door, his back to me.
"Like a wife?" I arched an eyebrow at him sarcastically, waiting for a response.
He turned around before reaching the doorknob.
"Yes, or just a woman who loves you."
I scoffed. A woman was the last thing I needed. I remembered all too well what happened the last time I needed one, and honestly, I was much better off alone.
"Good night, brother. Tell Zoe I send her a kiss."
"Don't stay too late," Bennett said before leaving and closing the door.
Even though I tried to deny it, I knew exactly why he was worried that I might not be able to do my job. Miss Brown had occupied my thoughts all afternoon.
I hadn’t even kissed or touched her yet, but I’d already had all sorts of fantasies about what I would do with her. And now my cock was waking up just thinking about her. I needed to get her out of my system as soon as possible. I wouldn’t let any woman mess with my work.
*
The next day, I worked diligently to gather all the information I would need to start organizing the finances of Columbia Lab.
There was a part of me, deep down, that was hoping there would be missing information about the research department. Just so I could have an excuse to see her. And realizing this pissed me off like hell.
I managed to compile a list of all the missing information before lunch. I asked my assistant to schedule a meeting with Mrs. Anderson.
She could only see me at the end of the day, and I accepted anyway. I tried to convince myself that all the anxiety was for the job and not because of her. But I knew that in any other situation, I would have postponed the meeting to the next day.
I arrived punctually at the lab; the meeting was set for five in the afternoon. I spent the next forty minutes with Alice in her office, explaining everything I would need beyond what she had already provided.
When we reached the last items on the list, regarding future investment costs for the research department, I didn’t hesitate.
"I hope Miss Brown can assist me with these final items."
"Oh, yes, but I'm not sure if she’ll be able to see you right now."
"I understand. Perhaps you could just ask her to email me later?" I tried to sound as casual as possible.
"Sure, I'll ask my assistant to take you to Ellie's office."
Hearing her name was enough to make me anxious. Alice's assistant, a blonde named Katlyn, was already gathering her things to leave when I stopped in front of her desk.
She walked me through the corridors with a smile, heading to Ellie’s office. A few people who were leaving passed us by. I thanked her before she left me at the door.
I took a deep breath before knocking. I waited thirty seconds before knocking again and realizing she wasn’t there. Could she be ignoring me? No. She couldn’t possibly know it was me.
I heard the sound of footsteps in the hallway, high heels to be precise, before hearing her voice behind me.
"Can I help you with something?" I turned to face her.
Her jaw was clenched, and her hair was tied up in a bun, with loose strands in the front. I cleared my throat before noticing what she was wearing.
Yes, a fucking white lab coat. She crossed her arms over her chest, pressing her breasts together.
"I was looking for you," I managed to say, raising my gaze to her face.
"I guess so since this is my office."
I tried to remember what I wanted to say.
"I was in a meeting with Mrs. Anderson. She said I should come to you, that you could help me with some things that are missing from your department."
"Right." She blinked several times before relaxing her shoulders. "I was on my way out, but I guess I can help you since you’re still here."
"Can we go inside?" I indicated her office.
"No!" She refused, too quickly. "I mean... It shouldn’t take that long, right? Show me." She was trying to get rid of me.
Did she really hate me that much? Or could it be that...
"Are you afraid?"
"What?" I stepped closer, narrowing the distance between us.
"Are you afraid of being alone with me in your office?"
"Why would I feel that way?"
"You tell me." I took a few more steps, and she backed up against the wall.
"What are you doing?" she asked, clearly confused and visibly nervous.
I closed the distance between us, placing my free hand on the wall beside her face. Her breathing became heavy, and I noticed how her chest rose and fell rapidly.
My hand was nearly touching her face when we heard the sound of voices in the hallway behind us.
"Shit!" she cursed before grabbing me and shoving me into a closet, opening a door to our right.
My back slammed against a shelf, and my entire body tensed as I felt her back press against me.
*Damn.* She tried to close the door, squeezing herself even closer to me in the process. *Fucking hell.* I didn’t dare move, but I knew she could feel my cock pressing right above her ass.